St. Ignatius pitcher a hot prospect entering draft

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The most recent Baseball America mock draft predicted the Giants would select St. Ignatius flamethrower Matt Krook in Thursday’s draft.

Every kid who begins to play baseball dreams of playing in the majors. They mimic their favorite hitters’ batting stance. They step on the mound and try to imitate their favorite pitcher.

However, few are ever able to see that dream become a reality. Even fewer are able to see it come true out of high school.

Recently graduated St. Ignatius pitcher Matt Krook could live that dream on Thursday as he is predicted to be selected early in the Major League Baseball Draft. The most recent Baseball America mock draft predicted the Giants would select Krook in the first round at No. 25 overall. MLB.com has him ranked as the 55th best prospect.

“I’m obviously very excited,” Krook said. “I thought I’d be a lot more nervous than I actually am because I feel I had a pretty good season. I really don’t have anything to regret and nothing to be nervous about there.”

The reality of the draft became clear to the 6-foot-3 Krook at about the midway point of the season when scouts began attending his games.

“It started to become pretty real in the middle of the season,” he said. “I had quite a few scouts coming to watch me play. Just talking with the different teams, I started to realize this could actually happen right out of high school.”

He gave the scouts plenty to be impressed with. When on the mound, Krook was clocked in the low 90s and MaxPreps.com has his ERA at a miniscule 1.84 to go along with 69 strikeouts in 49¹?³ innings.

His decision, though, is not as easy as getting drafted and making his way to his first minor league assignment. Krook is already committed to attending the University of Oregon in the fall and is supposed to play baseball for the Ducks.

“I’m still not 100 percent sure on what’s going to happen or what I‘m going to do,” he said. “I guess on Thursday, see what happens and then make a decision after that.”

That decision can sometimes be difficult. Many times family and friends give their input on the situation, but according to Krook, they have largely stayed out of the decision making aspect.

“I’m getting a lot of support from my friends and family,” he said. “No one’s pushing me to go one way or another. They’re doing a good job of letting me make the decision myself. It’s been awesome.”

Krook’s plan is to watch the draft from home with a small group of family and friends. On that day, he can dream big one more time as he sees the childhood dream become a reality.